Time tracking software can be essential to any small business or entrepreneur’s success. It helps you accurately record how much time you spend on various projects, from billable work to research and to brainstorm. But if you’re a Linux user, finding good time tracking software can seem like an impossible task. Fortunately, this article includes of 8 of the best time tracking software for Linux available today, so you can easily find one that meets your needs and budget.

8 Best Time Tracking Software for Linux

  1. Project Hamster– simple and intuitive time tracking tool
  2. Kimai-customizable time tracker
  3. Rachota– it is designed to support small, medium, and large size business
  4. Ktimetracker– Simple time tracking tool
  5. TimeCamp– time tracking software program that can track time on projects and create reports
  6. Klok– open-source time tracking app that runs on Linux
  7. Toggl– Flexible time tracking software that fits into any workflow
  8. Dot project– an open-source web-based project management tool

1. Project Hamster- simple and intuitive time tracking tool

PRICING: free

Project Hamster is one of those time-tracking applications that force you to be organized and efficient with your time. And even though it’s a free program, it doesn’t look like one. It uses professional-looking fonts and colors, making it seem more business than personal when you use it. You can customize most aspects of Project Hamster; everything from themes to tools to hotkeys is easy to change.

KEY FEATURES

  • Intuitive graphical interface
  • Fast and easy data entry
  • Exportable graphical reports
  • Workspace tracking

REASONS TO BUY

  • It makes project tracking easy
  • Easy on boarding
  • Check the time spent on specific activities
  • Provides a good overview of activity

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Only compatible with Gnome 3
  • No activity is tracked automatically.

2. Kimai-customizable time tracker

PRICING: €1.99/month

Kimai is a cross-platform tool with a long history. While not quite as pretty as some other options on our list, Kimai doesn’t have an annual fee, which is nice. As such, it’s one of the best free time tracking tools out there. A basic plan will get you more than enough for most home users, but paid strategies are available if you need more bells and whistles (but those cost extra). Either way, though, Kimai offers a lot for a little.

KEY FEATURES

  • Track work time
  • Activity summary
  • Multi-user support
  • Multi-lingual

 REASONS TO BUY

  • Tracks work time
  • Provides statistics on demand
  • It is customizable
  • Allows you to control your budget and work hours

REASON TO AVOID

  • Interface is sometimes clunky and hard to use

3. Rachota- it is designed to support small, medium, and large size business

PRICING: $7.20/month

Rachota is time tracking software that is trusted by users. It is also open-source, so it’s completely free. The best part of Rachota is that it integrates with many other applications like Toggl, Harvest, Trac, etc. It also comes with a user-friendly interface that works on all platforms. Try installing Rachota in your system and get started right away.

KEY FEATURES

  • Personal time tracking tool
  • Powerful data mining features.
  • Customizable reports and invoices
  • Feedback capability
  • Tagging

REASONS TO BUY

  • Simple user interface
  • Features are easy to learn

REASONS TO AVOID

Java-based application may make it a little complicated for some users

4. Ktimetracker- Simple time tracking tool

Ktimetracker is a simple time tracking tool that is fast and easy to use. With Ktimetracker, you’ll always know where your time goes; it automatically records your work and rest times to make you more productive. Ktimetracker keeps a history of your entries and detailed reports on projects and tasks.

KEY FEATURES

  • Track your time
  • Organizes task into sub-task
  • Pause detection
  • Edit task history and comments

REASONS TO BUY

  • Time tracker with no high-end features
  • Give you a how report of much time you spent on particular tasks

REASON TO AVOID

  • The interface is not very intuitive

5. TimeCamp- time tracking software program that can track time on projects and create reports

PRICING- $6.30/month

TimeCamp is a time tracking software program that can track time on projects, create reports and even invoice clients. It’s an open-source alternative to programs like Mavenlink and Harvest. Some of its key features include Tasks, Projects, Clients, Billing rates/costs, Invoicing capabilities, and more. TimeCamp provides users with a comprehensive and user-friendly time tracking solution.

KEY FEATURES

  • Time Tracking
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Drag and drop
  • Timer
  • Timesheet Management

REASONS TO BUY

  • Excellent time tracking tool
  • Best reporting system
  • Provides details on time spent
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Evernote, and more

REASON TO AVOID

The mobile app is relatively slow and laggy

6. Klok- open-source time tracking app that runs on Linux

PRICING: $19.99

Klok is an open-source time tracking app that runs on Linux. It has a simple, easy-to-use interface, it’s lightweight and flexible, and it can track time from all of your devices. Klok is fully cross-platform; all you need to do is download and install it on your desktop or laptop computer and sign in with Google or GitHub (and enter your company’s email address).

KEY FEATURES

  • Automatic Time Capture
  • Billing & Invoicing
  • Employee Database
  • Offline Time Tracking

REASONS TO BUY

  • Visual display of time with blocks like Google Calendar
  • Drag and drop time entry
  • No hosting fee
  • No server to set up

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Free version hides hints to upgrade

7. Toggl- Flexible time tracking software that fits into any workflow

PRICING– $9/month

This time-tracking tool includes a time-tracking widget that allows you to record how much time you spend on various projects quickly. It also integrates with lots of applications and automatically creates invoices. Setup is easy, plus Toggl makes recording your time simple and mobile. The free version of Toggl allows users to track unlimited projects with only five users at a time.

KEY FEATURES

  • Access Controls/Permissions
  • Alerts/Notifications
  • Assignment Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Time tracking

REASONS TO BUY

  • Allows you to track your time quickly with no hassle
  • There is an option to re-add an entry in case it was mistakenly deleted
  • The data analysis piece allows you to see time spent

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Creating several tasks might be a pain
  • No synergy between toggle plan and toggle track

8. Dot project- an open-source web-based project management tool

PRICING: Free

dot project is an open-source web-based project management tool. It allows you to organize, prioritize and follow up on tasks that need to be done. dot project stores all of your tasks in a centralized, easy-to-manage place so everyone on your team can see what needs to be done. Using plugins, you can use dot project as stand-alone software or integrate it with other tools such as GanttProject, or Redmine.

KEY FEATURES

  • Tracking and sorting tasks by date
  • Tracking and assigning contact information
  • Hierarchical task list
  • Forums
  • Gantt charts
  • Report generation
  • Reporting and time logging
  • History of all activities

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great forum feature
  • Task logs/updates 
  • Easy movement of a task from one project to another

REASON TO AVOID

  • Some features are not easy to use

Sources:

  • https://www.timecamp.com/blog/2021/07/ubuntu-time-tracking/
  • https://www.slant.co/versus/9103/4885/~project-hamster_vs_hubstaff
  • https://www.ubuntupit.com/best-time-tracking-software-for-linux/
  • https://sourceforge.net/projects/dotproject/reviews/?stars=0#reviews